Vibratory therapeutic device



M, 1937. 7 F. IVA. HICKERNELL 2,079,994

VIBRATORY THERAPEUT IC DEVI CE Filed Nov. 20, 1935 INVENTOR FREDERICK/1. H/CKER/VELL ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIBRATORY THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Frederick A. Hickernell, Maricopa County, Ariz.

Application November 20, 1935, Serial No. 50,759

3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to vibratory therapeutic devices.

The objects are to provide, first, a device whereby vibrations of comparatively high frequency may be communicated direct to the finger tips of the operator; second, to provide easily adaptable means whereby the treatment may be aiforded to the fingers of either one or both hands simultaneously. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

I accomplish these objects by means of the method and devices hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the entire device;

Fig. 2, an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3, a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional view of the interior of the vibrating mechanism with the case sectioned substantially on 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a section taken substantially on line 5-5, Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6, a perspective view of one of the rotors.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views.

Outer case 2 is made in two sections 3 and 4, held together by bolts 5. The left end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is rounded and shaped to contain an electric motor of the universal type com- 30 monly employed in vacuum cleaners and the like.

The right end of the case 6 extends outward from the motor portion to form a flattened rectangular portion to contain the vibrator and applicator elements, hereinafter described. Both the upper and lower portion are provided with lateral slots 1 to permit access to the applicator.

Motor shaft 8 (Fig. 4) is coupled to vibrator shaft 9 by a flexible universal coupling ill of soft rubber to keep vibrations out of the motor as 40 much as possible. Vibrator shaft 9 is journaled in a cross member of the frame II at the left end and a boss I2 at the right end. Steel rotor disks I4 having radial indentations forming teeth IS on their opposing faces are carried on shaft 9. 45 These teeth are of even number and coact on buttons IE on the armature I! which I call the applicator.

The rotor disks are fixed on shaft 9 by set screws ill or other equivalent means, so that 50 when the teeth on the left side are at the maximum point of contact with buttons I6 on the left side, buttons on the right side will be aligned with the notches between the teeth on the right hand rotor disk. Each rotor has the same num- 5 her of teeth.

The armature H, which I prefer to call an applicator, is made of an aluminum bar machined longitudinally to the section indicated in Fig. 5. This has somewhat of an H section. The fiattened indented sides carry the buttons IE on either side. The top and bottom channels 2| are somewhat rounded and V shaped to provide grooves to receive and hold the finger tips, as indicated by dotted lines l9. The converging sides of these channels permit the fingers to be 10 wedged therein so that the finger nail bears upon one side and the flesh is firmly pressed on the opposite side. Notches 22 are cut on the end corners of this applicator to form bearings or slideways permitting free lateral movement. of 15 the bar, but preventing its longitudinal movement or any twisting moment.

The center is drilled out at 20 to receive shaft 9 with a working fit, thus forming a further lateral bearing.

As shaft 9 turns the high points of the left and right rotors alternately coact on the applicator bar producing a rapid reciprocating motion.

The motor provided should have an approximate speed of 5000 revolutions per minute and 5 the rotors should preferably have sufiicient teeth (four in this instance) to produce approximately 20,000 vibrations per minute on the applicator bar. It is to be understood that the stroke of the applicator bar is comparatively small, as little as 1/20 of an inch being sufiicient.

In operation, the fingers of one or both hands are inserted in and along the grooves 2!, in applicator H as indicated by the dotted line in Fig.

5. When bothhands are to be treated at once, the motor end of the case is grasped between the palms of the hands and the fingers of both hands inserted into said slots on either side thereof. Vibrations are thus communicated to the tips of the fingers, thru the flesh on the lower side of the fingers to the bone, and thru the nails on the upper side of the fingers.

The device is used wherever vibrations thus communicated are found to be beneficial or of therapeutic value-in the treatment or correction of certain nervous disorders and for stimulating nerve reactions.

Having now described my invention, I realize that it is subject to modification, and the motive power and many parts may be substituted for these illustrated but the device would still remain within the spirit of my disclosure, therefore,'I wish to be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vibratory therapeutic device comprising,

in combination, an applicator bar having grooves adapted to receive and grip the finger tips, toothed rotor disks positioned on opposite lateral sides thereof coacting with portions of said bar to produce lateral reciprocating movement, means for rotating said rotor disks at a predetermined speed, supporting means including a case having guide ways to confine the motion of said applicator bar to a movement lateral to said grooves therein.

2. A vibratory therapeutic device comprising a container case having rounded cylindrical portion adapted to fit between the palms of the hands of the operator, an energizer bar supported within said case having exposed portions on opposite sides provided with grooves extending longitudinally of the bar, said grooves being positioned relative to the enlarged cylindrical portion of said case so that the fingers of the operator may be placed therein when said case portion is grasped between the palms of the hands, and

I grasped between the palms of the hands, means within said case for laterally vibrating said applicator bar, including a rotary motor mechanism, a shaft attached thereto, cams mounted thereon and an armature on said applicator bar co-acting with said cams to produce alternate straight line lateral movement.

FREDERICK A. I-IICKERNELL. 

